Suspension filing system for folders and other document containers



Sept. 27, 1966 s. A. ZlPPEL 3, SUSPENSION FILING SYSTEM FOR FOLDERS AND OTHER DOCUMENT CONTAINERS Original Filed April 19, 1960 INVENTOR. GEUPG AZFPED Z IPPE L ATTOP/VEVS United States Patent 3,275,004 SUSPENSION FILING SYSTEM FOR FOLDERS AND OTHER DOCUMENT CONTAINERS Georg Alfred Zippel, Muhlweg, Altdorf, near Nurnberg, Germany Original application Apr. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 23,195, now

Patent No. 3,165,104, dated Jan. 12, 1965. Divided and this application July 8, 1964, Ser. No. 381,007

1 Claim. (Cl. 12916.7)

This invention relates to suspension filing systems, and more specifically to a suspension filing system for folders and other document containers. This application is a division of Serial No. 23,195, filed April 19, 1960, now Patent No. 3,165,104.

The document containers have an upper suspension edge extending in normal suspended position parallel to the ground. A fitting is mounted on the suspension edge and it has a recess opening through said suspension edge. The fitting has two carrier noses projecting into said recess and spaced from the vertical center of gravity of each respective folder for suspending it on a supporting rail. Counter abutment means are provided on the recess and on the rail to prevent pivoting of the fitting relative to the supporting rail.

The document containers capable of being suspended in this manner are known as suspension folders, envelopes and wrappers. The supporting rail and each suspension edge cooperating therewith are constructed in a great variety of ways. All constructions have, however, one feature in common, namely that each folder suspended solely by a single carrier nose will assume with its suspension edge an inclined position to the ground, because the vertical center of gravity of each folder does not pass through the center of gravity of the supporting surface between the carrier nose and the supporting rail but is at a predetermined distance therefrom. As a result the torque moment is produced serving to pivot the folder about the supporting rail as pivot axis, the magnitude of which torque amount is dependent upon the amount of document material inserted or filed in the folder.

In order, therefore, to compel the suspension edges of all folders in a suspension filing cabinet apparatus to assume a position parallel to the ground, that is, a horizontal position, a special holding arrangement has been provided by means of which every suspension edge is supported so that the suspension edge is in the required horizontal position. This special arrangement has likewise been constructed in many ways. All have, however, the common feature that an additional supporting bar is coordinated with the supporting rail engaging under the supporting nose, on which bar each folder is either suspended by means of a second nose extending over the recess so that the suspension edge is parallel to the ground, or against which the back portion of each suspension edge, swinging upwards in relation to the supporting nose, bears in its position parallel to the ground. The supporting bar may be constructed as a separate element or as a component of the supporting rail. This special arrangement ensures in any case that the suspension edges extend parallel to the ground or horizontally, when the folders are in their normal suspended state.

It has, however, been found that ima suspension filing cabinet apparatus, when the material filed in a folder is displaced in the direction of the special arrangement holding the suspension edges in horizontal position the unbalance is so great that a counter moment is produced which can become greater than the torque moment pressing each suspension edge of a folder against the special holding arrangement. Also, in the case of folders with one carrier nose and one supporting nose resting on the "ice supporting rail, one of the noses can lift itself off the supporting rail, according to which end of the folder the material is displaced toward. Due to the counter moment, the suspension edges are brought into a position inclined with respect to the ground which prevents a clear view of the suspension filing system, especially when the suspension edges are constructed at the same time as tabs or as guides for other identification marks. A displacement of the filed document material occurs, particularly in the case of suspended envelopes which serve for receiving unperforated material which in all sizes is mostly placed only in the same position into the suspended envelopes.

As compared with the prior art practices, the object of the present invention is to improve suspension devices of the type referred to in such a manner that the horizontal position of a folder in normal suspended position is ensured practically independently of the position and the direction of the vertical center of gravity of this folder.

This object is achieved according to the invention by providing a suspension filing system of the type referred to, which comprises at least one abutment and counter abutment means between said supporting rail and said fitting of said folder to take up also the counter torque moment caused by the displacement of the document material in said folder towards said holding arrangement taking up the torque moment, and each fitting also permitting the folder to be easily removed from the supporting rail when desired.

These measures ensure that each suspension edge of a suspended folder, envelope, wrapper or the like will be suspended on the supporting rail parallel to the ground independently of the direction or displaced position of the vertical center of gravity caused by the displacement of the filed material. In particular, this advantage is rendered possible practically without any special construction being necessary, so that the suspension filing system is not more expensive than the constructions hitherto known wherein only the torque moment is taken up.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached drawing which is a central sectional view through a supporting rail and showing a fragment of a document folder, including the suspension fitting, mount- 7 ed on the rail.

In the form of construction illustrated in the drawing, the folder F has an upper suspension edge portion 1 which is provided in a known manner with a fitting 2. The fitting 2 has a recess 3 which opens through the upper edge of the folder. Two noses 4 and 5 project partly over the mouth of this recess, the nose 4 being a carrier nose and the nose 5 a supporting nose, because the vertical center of gravity of the folder is located nearer the carrier nose 4. A boundary edge 6 of the recess 3 extends outwardly from the root of the carrier nose 4 at an incline thereby widening the recess, Whereas 'a boundary edge 7 extends from the root of the supporting nose 5 perpendicularly to the suspension edge and is of a length shorter than that of the boundary edge 6. The two boundary edges 6 and 7 are interconnected by an inclined edge 8. The carrier nose 4 and the supporting nose 5 rest on flanges 9 of a supporting rail 10 which is of inverted T-shaped cross-sectional configuration, that is, the noses rest on the free longitudinal edges of the rail, which edges are bent or beaded upwards towards the web 11 of the supporting rail so that inclined surfaces 12 are formed. The free ends of the carrier nose 4 and the supporting nose 5 are widened and rounded. The widened portions bear against the inclined surfaces 12 to hold the suspension edge 1 and, consequently, the document container or folder F associated therewith, in a central position between the inclined surfaces 12 of the supporting rail 10. The spacing between the boundary edges 6 and 7 of the recess 3 is greater than the widthof the supporting rail so that the folder can be lifted off the supporting rail by swinging the carrier nose 4 upwardly and at the same time pushing it forward towards the web of the supporting rail 10 to disengage nose :5,

from the rightward surface 12. The folder can then be swung so that the nose moves downwardly below the supporting rail 10. Then the folder can be moved .leftwardly with respect to the supporting rail as shown in FIGURE 1 until the nose 4 is clear of the leftward surface 12.

According to the invention an abutment 13 constr'ucted f as, a longitudinal rib, bar or the like is provided as a downward extension of the web '11 of the supporting rail 10. The abutment 13 bears against the inclined 1 bottom edge 8 of the recess 3 almost withoutplay when the folder is in the normal suspended position as shown in FIGURE 1. The inclined edge 8 forms a counter abutment 14 for the abutment 13 at the point of contact therebetween. If the document material in the folder'is displaced toward one end orthe other, the carrier. nose 4 or the supporting nose 5 associated with the respective opposite end, will be urged upwardly away from the bent up longitudinal edge of the associated flange 9. This, however, is prevented by the abutment 13 and the counter abutment 14. Moreover, since the spacing between the boundary edges 6 and 7 is greater than the width of the rail10, a positive shifting and swinging of the suspension edge can be effected, so that in spite of the abutment 13 and the counter abutment 14, the folder can be suspended on or lifted off the supporting rail 10 without any hindrance as above described. 7

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description andall changes which come within the meaning and a folder fabricated from sheet material and having an upper suspension edge portion;

a substantially fiat and stiff suspension member se cured to said suspension edge portion, said member having a recess opening through theupper edge thereof, said recess being defined by a bottom edge, a pair of spaced, side edges and a pair of carrier noses extending toward each other from the upper ends of said side edges, one of said sidev edges being longer than the other and the bottom edge of said recess sloping upwardly from the bottom end of the longer side edge to the bottom end of theishorter,

side edge, said carrier noses having downwardly extending beads along their adjacent edges .and-the distance between the remotesidesof the beadson said carrier noses being approximately? equal tothe distance between adjacent sides. of the, edge portions on said flange means, said rail being relatively movable transversely thereof into said recess and into a position with respect-thereto so that said noses are respectively engaged by and supported uponsaid 1 flange means with said beads between said edge por-v tions, said adjacent sides of said edge portions being closely adjacent said beads to oppose movement of said suspension member transversely of said rail when said rail is in said position, the: distance-between at least a portion of said one side edge .and

the one carrier nose adjacent said other side edge of said recess being greater than said distancev be;

tween the remote edges of said flange means on said rail; 7 7 saidrib extending downwardly below said flange means into contact with a central portionof said bottom' edge when said flange means are in supporting positions beneath said carrier noses, whereby pivoting of said suspension member and said folder around the lengthwise axis of said rail is positively opposed, 'said rail being relatively movable within said recess from said supporting position toward said one side:

edge so that said rib is moved away from said central portion of said bottom edge and the flange means is moved from beneath the one carrier, nose,

whereby said folder can be moveddownwardly away from said rail.

References Citedby the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,165,104 1/1965. Zippel' 129-16.7

FOREIGN PATENTS 751,152 6/ 1956 Great Britain.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

